Revolvable ball type liquid applicator



Oct. 6, 1953 L, J, sCELsl REVOLVABLE BALL TYPE LIQUID APPLICATOR Filed March 17, 1948 INVENTOR. 9M

' ing desired on rouged lips.

Patented Oct. 6, 1953 UNITEDv sTATEs PATENT OFFICE REVOLVABLE BALL TYPE LIQUID APPLICATOR Lee J. Scels, Buffalo, N. Y.

Application March 17, 1948, Serial No. 15,362

8 Claims. l

This invention relates to liquid applicators, and more particularly to a device for applying liquid lip rouge.

At the present time lip rouge is chiefly used in the form of a stick of paste-like material which is applied by wiping one end of the stick on the lips. This lip rouge is greasy and leaves a deposit on the lipsl which isnot always comfortable to wear and which can be readily smeared and therefore requires frequent touching up. Further the operative end -of such a lipstick wears away with use and changes form.

The principal object of the present invention is to provide a device for applying a liquid lip rouge of a type which does not leave a greasy film but rather colors or tints the lips with a dye which dries on the lips and is not readily removed.

Another object is to provide a liquid lip rouge applicator in which the liquid rouge is applied by a ball adapted to be rolled along the lips.

Another object is to provide such a device which in use maintains a constant supply of liquid lip rouge on the surface of the ball and thus permits the liquid rouge to be evenly applied to the lips.

Another object is to provide such a liquid lip rouge applicator which is easy to use and which can be used to achieve the smooth and even edg- Another object is to provide such a liquid lip rouge applicator which does not leak.

lthe liquid in such a container is exhausted the container can be readily removed from the device and a filled container substituted therefor.

Another object is to provide such a liquid lip rouge applicator which is small and compact in size and can therefore be conveniently and easily carried in a handbag or pocket.

A further object is to provide such a liquid lip rouge applicator which is simple in construction and can be inexpensively manufactured in attractive form.

Other objects and advantages will be readily apparent from the following description and drawings wherein Fig. lis a vertical central section on an enlarged scale through a liquid applicator embodying my invention. and showing the relation of the elements when the applicator'is not in use and also showing the operative end of the applicator ,covered with a cap.

of the operative end of the applicator shown in Fig. 1 and showing the cap removed and the relation of the elements when' the applicator is in use.

Figs. 3 and 4 are horizontal sections thereof taken on lines 3-3 and 4-4, respectively, Fig. 1.

The liquid applicator embodying the present invention comprises a body I0, a revolvable ball II projecting exteriorly therefrom, and means arranged within the body I0 for applying liquid to the surface of the Aball II so that when the applicator is held with the ball against a surface and moved to roll theball along the surface the ball applies liquid to the surface.

The body IIJ is preferably elongated for ease in handling and is shown as including a bottom section I2, an intermediate section I3 and an upper section I4. kThe bottom section I 2 is shown as being cup shaped and cylindrical in cross sectional form. The intermediate section I3 is shown as being of general frusto-conical form and having a passage I5 extending axially therethrough, the larger end of this intermediate section joining with the bottom section I2 and the smaller end joining with the upper section I4. The sections I2 and I3 kare preferably removably connected together and for this purpose the upper end of the bottom section I2 is internally threaded as indicated at I6 to receive an externally threaded axial extension I8 on the lower end of the intermediate section I3 and thus provide a threaded connection between these sections. The upper section I4 is shown as being in the form ofa tubular cylinder having its lower end press iitted over a` cylindrical extension I9 integrally formed on the upper end of the intermediate section I3.

The upper section i4 partially housesthe ball y II.l To retain the ballII Within the upper section I4 an annular member 2l] having a central `circular opening 2I smaller in diameter than the ball II is shown as being arranged on the outer 4end of the upper section I4. For this purpose the annular member 2B is shown as being press fitted into an annular recess. 22 provided in the upper end of the upper section I4. It will be seen that the opening 2! inthe annular member 20 permits the outer portion of the bally II to project partially therethrough and the annular member provides an outer seat for the ball.

In order constantly to urge the ball II into yengagement withjits outer seaty the ball II is magnetically attractable and for this purpose is Lpreferably ,made of steel and thel annular member 20 is preferably in the form cfa permanent magnet. However, other suitable magnetic means for attracting the ball I I may be employed.

Removable means are arranged within the body I for applying liquid to the ball I I. Such means are shown as comprising an elongated container or vial 23 of any suitable material such as plastic, glass or metal having an enlarged lower portion 24. This enlarged lower portion 24 snugly fits the interior of the cup-shaped lower body section I2. The container 23 is shown as extending axially through the passage I with its upper end arranged within and in spaced relation to a cylindrical bore 25 provided in the upper .6nd .of the intermediate body section I3. 'The upper extremity of the container 23 is shown as extending above the upper end of the intermediate body section I3 and to close the upper end .of the container 23 a cap 26 is shown as fitted over 4the mouth of the container. 'Ihis cap 26 is crimped or otherwise suitably secured to the container. The periphery of this cap 26 preferably snugly tits the bore 25 as shown.

Within the container 23 is a body of liquid lip rouge 28 in which the lower end of a wick 29 vis immersed, the upper end of this wick extending axially of the container and being arranged in a central opening 30 provided in the cap 25. The central portion of the cap 26 is shown as being spherically recessed vor dished inwardly of the container 23 and supports a liquid absorbent pad BI. This pad 3| is preferably made of a disk of felt and is suitably connected to the upper extremity of the Wick 29 in liquid conducting relation therewith. It will be noted that the upper surface of the pad 3l is concentric with the opposing surface of the ball II and is adapted to provide an inner seat therefor.

The vvertical spacing between the outer seat provided by the annular permanent magnet member and the inner seat provided by the pad 3| is preferably such that when the ball II engages this outer seat, a slight clearance, `as indicated at 32, exists between the opposing faces .of the ball II and the pad 3|. When the applicator is not in use the magnetically attractibl'e ball I I is held on its outer seat and thereby keeps the ball out of contact with the pad 3I which is kept at all times satura-ted with liquid derived from the liquid body 28 in the container 23 and conducted to the pad 3I by the wick l2.9 through capillary action. This prevents leakage cf the liquid from the applicator when the same is not in use.

To prevent further leakage, a plug 33, is shown as being arranged within the container 23 immediately above the liquid body 2B therein. This plug 33 tightly engages the interior surface of the container 23 and is also shown as being provided with a central opening 34 through which the wick 29 extends. This opening 34 is smaller in diameter than the wick 29 and thereby constricts the wick lso as to prevent free iiow of the liquid therethrough although liquid can still be Conducted through the constricted portion of the wick 29 by capillary action. In this manner flooding of the pad 3I is prevented.

It will be noted that the container 23 with its contents, its cap 2B and the pad 3| form a unitary structure which can be removed as such vfrom the body I0 by unscrewing the lower section I2. To replace this unit, the lower section I2 is first removed, the exhausted unit withdrawn from the lower end of the intermediate section I3 and a filled unit substituted, after which the lower section I2 is screwed back in place.

To cover the ball I I when the applicator is not 4 in use a removable cap 35 is shown as being i'rictionally held on the reduced exterior of the upper end of the lower body section I2 as indicated at 36. Of course, any other suitable manner of removably mounting the cap 35 can be employed.

In use the cover 35 is removed and the exposed outer portion of the ball I I is pressed against the lip L as shown in Fig. 2. This pressure separates the ball II from its outer seat provided by the permanent magnet member .2| and causes the opposite inner face of the ball II to contact and compress the saturated pad 3| against the cap 2B. Thereafter moving the applicator laterally causes the bal1 II to roll lalong the lip L and at the same time causes this ball to wipingly engage the pad 3i whereby liquid lip rouge is picked up by the surface of the ball. When this portion of the ball II coated with a film of the liquid engages .the `lip the liquid rouge is transferred to the lip. It will thus be seen that liquid lip rouge can be effectively and evenly applied by rolling the ball I I back and forth along the lip in any direction. The wick 29 will keep the pad 3| saturated with liquid lip rouge supplied from the liquid body 28 in the container 23. When the ball II is separated from the lip L, the magnet member 20 attracts the ball to it and thus separates the ball from the pad 3 I The container 2.3 is removable and replaceable as previously described. It will be noted that when the container 23 is removed from the body Ill of the applicator, the ball II cannot leave the compartment 31 since the .diameters of the opening 2| in the magnet member 20 and of the bore 25 in the intermediate body section I 3 are smaller than the diameter of the ball l I.

From the foregoing it will be seen that the present invention provides a simple and leak-proof liquid lip rouge Vapplicator which is inexpensive to manufacture and in which the supply ot liquid can be replenished by removing the exhausted liquid container and substituting a filled container. The change of these containers also permits .the pad 3| to be replaced.

I claim:

1. A liquid applicatorl comprising a body, a revolvable magnetically attractable ball partially housed within said body with a portion of said ball projecting exteriorly of said body, a permanent magnet member on said body and having an outer seat for said ball, a liquid absorbent pad arranged within said body to provide an inner seat for said ball, and means within said body for maintaining said pad saturated with liquid, said ball being adapted to be pressed against said pad against the urging of said magnet member to permit `a wiping engagement between said pad and ball when the latter is revolved whereby said pad transfers liquid to said ball.

2. A liquid applicator, comprising a body, a revolvable magnetically attractable ball partially housed within said body with a portion of said ball projecting exteriorly of said body, said body having a magnetic outer seat for said ball, a liq uid absorbent pad arranged within said body to provide an inner seat for said ball, and means within said body for maintaining said pad saturated with liquid, the spacing between said inner and outer seats being such that when said ball is seated on said outer seat there is clearance between said inner seat and ball, said ball being adapted to be pushed off said outer seat and against said pad to permit a wiping engagement betweensaid pad and ball when the latter is revolved whereby said pad transfers liquid to said ball.

3. A liquid applicator, comprising a body, a permanent magnet member on one end of said body and having a circular opening therein to provide an annular seat, a liquid absorbent pad arranged within said body in spaced relation to said annular seat, means within said body for maintaining said pad saturated with liquid, and a revolvable magnetically attractable Iball arranged within said body and between said annular seat and pad to selectively engage said annular seat and pad and with a portion of said ball projecting exteriorly through said opening, the spacing between said annular seat and pad being such that when said ball is seated on said annular seat there is clearance between said pad and ball, said ball being adapted to be pushed off said annular seat against the urging of said magnet member and against said pad to permit a wiping engagement between said pad and ball when the latter is revolved whereby said pad transfers liquid to said ball.

4. A liquid applicator, comprising a revolvable magnetically attractable ball, a body partially housing said ball and having a permanent magnet member constituting an cuter seat for and normally engaged by said ball, a portion of said ball projecting through said member, a liquid transfer pad arranged on the side of said ball opposite from said outer seat to have a wiping engagement with said ball when the exposed portion of said ball is pressed against and moved along a surface, and means within said body for maintaining said pad saturated with liquid.

5. A liquid applicator, comprising a hollow body having a seat, a revolvable ball arranged to engage said seat and partially projecting exteriorly from said body, and means arranged within said body for applying liquid to said ball and removable from said body as a unitary structure, said means comprising a container, a liquid absorbent pad on said container and a wick operatively connecting said pad with the liquid in said container to maintain said pad saturated with liquid.

6. A liquid applicator, comprising a hollow body having a seat, a revolvable ball arranged to engage said seat and partially projecting exteriorly from said body, and means arranged within said body for applying liquid to said ball and removable from said body as a unitary structure, said means comprising a container, a liquid absorbent pad on said container, a plug in said container intermediate the ends thereof and having an opening therethrough and a Wick eX- tending through said opening and being constricted thereby and operatively connecting said pad with the body of liquid in said container on one side of said plug.

7. A liquid applicator, comprising an elongated hollow body closed at one end and having an opening in the other end, a revolva-ble ball arranged within said body and having a portion projecting exteriorly thereof through said opening, and means arranged within said body for applying liquid to said ball and removable from said body as a unitary structure, said means comprising an elongated liquid container arranged within said body and having one end adjacent said ball, said one end being dished inwardly of said container, a liquid absorbent pad on said dished end and means for maintaining said pad saturated with liquid from said container.

8. A liquid applicator, comprising an elongated hollow body closed at one end and having an opening in the other end and formed to provide an inwardly facing seat surrounding said opening, a revolvable ball arranged to engage said seat with a portion of said ball projecting through said opening, said body having a passage portion narrower than said Iball and on the side thereof opposite from said seat, and means arranged within said body for applying liquid to said ball and removable from said body as a unitary structure, said means comprising an elongated liquid container removably arranged within said passage portion with one end adjacent said ball, a cap secured to said one end and snugly tted in said passage portion and having its end portion opposing said ball dished inwardly of said con.. tainer and provided with an opening, a liquid absorbent pad supported on said one end and a Wick arranged in said opening in the cap and connected at one end to said pad and having its opposite end portion immersed in the liquid in said container, said unitary structure being withdrawable from said passage portion in a direction away from said ball.

LEE J. SCELSI.

References Cited in the lle of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 291,925 Morton Jan. 15, 1884 527,049 Close Oct. 9, 1894 554,189 Kochendarfer Feb. 4, 1896 1,514,519 Harris Nov. 4, 1924 1,670,458 Le Boeuf May 22, 1928 2,122,580 Morris July 5, 1938 FOREIGN PATENTS Number Country Date 5,567 Great Britain Jan. 31, 1884 926,943 France Apr. 28, 1947 935,507 France Feb. 2, 1948 OTHER REFERENCES Moore, patent application Abstract Ser. No. 615,908, vol. 631, page 582 O. G.. February 14, 1950. 

